Wire-stretcher



(No Model.) I

- W. W. MANGUM, Jr.

WIRE STRBTGHER. I

Patented MayZl, 1.895.

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NITED STATES ATENT FFIC' WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent No. 539,587, dated May 21,1895.

v Application filed August 16, 1894. Serial No. 620,517. (No model.) i

. To all whom it may concern/r Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. MANGUM,Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Nixon, in the county ofHardin and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and usefulWire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for stretchingwire in the constructionof fences; and

the objects in view are to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficientapparatus adapted, with the proper adjustment of parts, to perform itsfunctions in connection with fences of different construction.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire-stretcherembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of theapparatus. apparatus adapted for tightening tie-wires in theconstruction of a post-and-rail fence. Fig. 4 is a detail View of theWire-clamp. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the ratchet-bar with the head forengagement with a post.

Similar numeralsof reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the draw- 'ings.

1 designates a ratchet-bar which fits slidably in a frame orbody-portion 2, saidframe or bod y-portion being provided with an offsetbox 3, in which is fu'lcrumed the operating or hand-lever 4. Pivotallyconnected to the short arm of this operating or hand lever is anoperating pawl 5,-which engages the large teeth 6 on the adjacent edgeof the ratchetbar,"and pivotally mounted in a slot 7 at the oppositeside of the body portion or frame is a locking pawl 8, which engages thesmaller teeth 9 upon the opposite edge of said ratchetbar. The operatingpawl 5 is held in contact, and therefore in operative relation with theratchet-bar, by means of a coiled spring 10, and the locking-pawl issimilarly held in operative position by means of a leaf-spring 11.

The front end of the ratchet-bar is fitted with a cross-head 12, whichis provided with a central opening 13, engaged with a. stud 14 on theextremity of said bar, said stud being Fig. 3 is a View of the I engagedin front of the cross-bar by means of a nut 15. The cross-head isprovided with terminal prongs or ears 16, which are adapted to engagethe post against which the device is arranged in stretching a wire orWires, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. ratchet-bar is shaped to-form ahandle 17 and is provided with a perforation 18, with which is engaged ahook 19 on the end of a brace 20. This brace preferably consists of amember 21 havinga series of slots 22 and a terminal-offset portion 23provided with an opening 24, and a separate member 25 which is adaptedto fit in the perforation 24, and is provided with a h0ok26 to engageone of the slots 22. The outer or front end of this member 25 isprovided with ahook 27 to engage a post, and thus support the rear endof the apparatus.

It will be seen that the brace or stayis extensible and therefore maybeadjusted to suit the desired inclination or length of the ratchet-bar. Y

Fitted upon the rear end of the body-portion or frame of the apparatusis a collar 28, held in place by means of a thumb-screw 29, and providedwith lateral ears 30 having perforations 31. In these perforations arefitted the draw-rods 32 provided at their rear ends with nuts 33 and attheir front ends with hooks 34, the front portions of said draw-rodsbeing arranged in the keepers 35.

In Fig. 1 I have shownthe arrangement of the above described device inoperative relation with a'fence in the process of construction, one ofthe runners 36 of such fence being engaged with a wire-clamp 37 havingpivotally connected'jaws 38 and 39, connected at their rear ends bymeans of links 40 to a short chain 41. The terminal link of this shortchain is engaged with the hook at the front extremity of one of thedraw-rods 32.

After arranging the partsQas above described, the operating. orhand-lever is oscillated to move the body-portion or frame of theapparatus from the post against which the ratchet-bar bears, thusstraining the runner of the fence.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the apparatus ar-- ranged for use as a wiretightener in the construction of rail fences, in which the rails areheld in place by means of a tie-wire 42. The tie-wire is secured bymeans of a staple or The rear end of the otherwise to the post near itsbottom, and is extended loosely upward and secured at the upper end ofthe same, after which the rails are inserted between the post and thewire, the latter being left sufficiently loose to provide spacetherefor. The brace or stay is detachable from the ratchet-bar, as alsois the cross-head at the front end thereof, and connected to the hookson the front ends of the draw-rods 32 are the short chains which areattached to the extremities of a slotted plate 43. This plate isarranged over the tie-wire upon the opposite side of the post from thatagainst which the end of the push-bar bears, and the operating handle ismoved to draw the body portion or frame of the apparatus backward untilsaid tie-wire is drawn against the side of the post. A staple is thendriven through the slot 3a in the plate 43 to secure the wire.

From the above description it will be seen that the device is simple inconstruction and arrangement, and that the parts may be readilyadjusted, and it is obvious that various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any ofthe advantages thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination'witha hollow body portion or frame, an operating lever, and spring actuatedoperating and locking pawls, of a ratchet-bar slidably fitted in thebody portion or frame, draw-rods connected to the body portion or frame,and means connected to said draw-rods for engaging a wire, substantiallyas specified.

2. The combination with a body portion, an operating lever, andoperating and locking pawls, of a ratchet-bar fitted slidably in thebody portion or frame and provided with a cross-head having spurs orears to engagea post, draw-rods connected to the body portion or frame,and means attached to said drawrods for engaging a wire, substantiallyas specified.

3. The combination with a body portion or frame, a hand-lever, andoperating and looking pawls, of a ratchet-bar slidably fitted in thebody-portion or frame and provided at one end with a cross-head forengagement with a post, draw-rods connected to the bodyportion or frame,means connected to the drawrods for engaging a wire, and a brace or stayconnected to the rear end of the ratchet-bar and comprising relativelyadjustable members or sections, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a body portion or frame, a hand lever, andoperating and looking pawls, of a ratchet bar slidably fitted in thebody-portion or frame, a collar removably fitted upon the said bodyportion or frame, draw-rods fitting at their rear ends in perforationsin said collar and at their front ends in keepers on the body portion orframe, and means connected to the draw-rods for engaging a wire,substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a body portion or frame, a hand lever, andoperating and looking pawls, of a ratchet bar slidably fitted in thebody portion or frame, draw-rods connected to the body portion or frame,means connected to the draw-rods for engaging a wire, and a brace orstay connected at one end to the rear end of the ratchet bar andcomprising relatively ad jnstable members or sections 21 and 25, theformer of which is pro vided at one end with a hook to engageaperforation in the ratchet bar and at the other end with a perforatedear 23 through which the member 25 extends, and said member 25 beingprovided at one end with a hook 27 to engage a post and at the other endwith a hook 26 to engage one of a series of slots 22 formed in themember 21, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aliixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILL AM w. MANGUM, JR.

Witnesses:

U. G. BAKER, J. A. C. GAMMILL.

